Ashli Babbitt, gunned down during the Jan. 6 Capitol chaos, will finally receive the military funeral honors she earned as an Air Force veteran. The Trump administration’s decision reverses a Biden-era snub that left her family reeling, as the Daily Mail reports. It’s a bold move that exposes the left’s selective outrage over who gets honored and who doesn’t.
Babbitt, a 35-year-old patriot, died in the Capitol riot while protesting the 2020 election results. The Air Force, under Trump’s leadership, settled a $5 million wrongful death lawsuit and granted her family the honors previously denied. This saga highlights a clash between honoring service and punishing political dissent.
On that fateful day, Babbitt joined thousands contesting Joe Biden’s victory. She was shot by Capitol Police officer Michael Byrd while attempting to climb through a broken window near the Speaker’s Lobby.
Byrd faced no charges after an investigation cleared him, a decision that fueled conservative skepticism about government overreach. The left cheered the ruling, yet cried foul when Babbitt’s family sought justice. Hypocrisy much?
Babbitt’s husband, Aaron, filed a $30 million lawsuit, claiming she was unarmed with her hands raised when shot. The suit alleged wrongful death, assault, battery, and negligence. It’s a grim reminder of how quickly narratives are spun to protect the establishment.
The Biden administration coldly denied Babbitt military funeral honors, citing her role in the riot. This snub ignored her service in the Air Force and Air National Guard, including deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the UAE. Apparently, her sacrifice counted for nothing under progressive rule.
Enter the Trump administration, which didn’t just sit idly by. A $5 million settlement was reached, acknowledging the pain of Babbitt’s family. The left’s outrage over this payout conveniently ignores their silence on other government settlements.
Conservative group Judicial Watch fought tirelessly for Babbitt’s honors. Their letter blasted Biden’s denial as a “grave national injustice,” arguing it clashed with Trump’s clemency for 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants. The group’s persistence paid off, proving the power of standing firm.
“After reviewing the circumstances of SrA Babbitt’s death, the Air Force has offered Military Funeral Honors to SrA Babbitt’s family,” an Air Force spokesperson declared. This reversal, led by Under Secretary Matthew Lohmeier, rights a wrong that reeked of political bias. The woke crowd’s silence on this is deafening.
Lohmeier’s Aug. 15 letter to Babbitt’s family admitted the prior denial was flawed. “I am persuaded that the previous determination was incorrect,” he wrote. That’s what happens when you let facts, not feelings, guide decisions.
Babbitt’s military service spanned years, with stints in dangerous war zones. She was part of the 113th Security Forces Squadron, tasked with defending the National Capitol Region. Denying her honors was a slap in the face to every veteran who served honorably.
The funeral honors include an honor guard, the playing of Taps, and a U.S. flag presentation. These are standard for veterans, yet Babbitt was initially excluded for her political actions. It’s a chilling precedent the left seems all too comfortable with.
Lohmeier invited Babbitt’s husband and mother to the Pentagon to discuss the honors. This gesture shows respect for her service, not just her death. Contrast that with Biden’s team, who couldn’t be bothered to show basic decency.
Trump, speaking to Newsmax, called Babbitt a “really good person” and a “big MAGA fan.” He labeled her shooting “unthinkable,” vowing to look into it. His administration’s actions back up those words, unlike the empty promises of the progressive elite.
“It is impossible to reconcile Gen. Kelly’s denial of military funeral honors with President Trump’s grant of clemency,” Judicial Watch argued. They’re right -- punishing Babbitt’s memory while pardoning others is a contradiction only the left could dream up. This decision restores fairness, plain and simple.
